USA! USA! USA!

Romans 13

Submission to Governing Authorities

 ¹ Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. ² Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. ³ For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. ⁴ For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. ⁵ Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

 ⁶ This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.⁷ Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

The political season is heating up and as usual it's getting ugly. We are so mean to each other. I don't know how this got to be so popular. It polarizes our nation and after the election we always have hurt feelings. Then stubbornness sets in and then gridlock. Compromise? You never find it any more. We can't seem to get along unless a crisis occurs. 911 is a great example of that. But, recently even a crisis isn't a good enough reason to come together. Now we just argue about money, taxes, debt, entitlements, social issues, morality and a multitude of other minor squabbles. To outsiders it might appear that we hate our country. 

Well, I'm here to tell you I LOVE MY COUNTRY! I love what we stand for. I love our institutions and all our internal bickering. What other country do you know that doesn't resort to bloodshed to solve big issues? If other countries were facing the financial crisis that we are, or the downfall of our financial institutions a few years ago, they would have resorted to violence. We fight, we debate, we argue, and I wouldn't live anywhere else but here. We disagree with our elected officials, we get upset when they let us down. But, we don't go out and shoot them, we elect someone else. We have peaceful transitions between our political parties and we move on regardless if we agree or disagree with the ones in power. I don't care what people might say, Our country is endowed by God. Now, are we prefect? Nope. Governments are made of sinful people. ALL PEOPLE HAVE SINNED and fall short. Our government, run by people, is no different. But, it is the best and I love it! 

Thank You Lord for the wonderful gift to live in this country. We are blessed! May we never forget that the authority you have given them, over us, is real, it is divine, and we are to respect it. Praise God for the USA!